Regional

Mumbai, March 23 (IANS) A day after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray's dramatic revelations of an unauthorised 'dargah' coming up in the Arabian Sea off Mahim, the BMC rushed a team there and demolished it, here on Thursday morning.

A team of BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) along with heavy police bandobast, a JCB and other equipment, swooped onto the so-called 'mazaar' (grave) of an unknown person that had manifested on a tiny islet a few metres away from the Mahim sea-shore.

The BMC-police teams examined it thoroughly, removed the flagpoles with green and white flags, other paraphernalia on and around the 'mazaar' and then rolled a bulldozer which reduced it to dust.

The purported 'mazaar', covered with a green cloth, garlands and flower-chadars, used to attract a few devotees who would wade through knee-deep sea-water for a few metres to visit the site and offer prayers there.

The development came after Raj Thackeray pulled the ears of the state government, Mumbai Police and civic administration, and drew their attention to the potential security threat lurking there.

--IANS
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Ranchi, March 23 (IANS) The Income Tax (I-T) Department has unearthed a stock of 22,000 metric tonne of coal during raids conducted at the premises of Agriti Minerals Private Ltd, a Jharkhand-based company involved in the business of mining products.

During investigation, it was revealed that the coal was meant to be supplied to two power plants in the state, but instead was illegally dumped by the company. The coal was stored at the company's bases at Kuju town in the Ramgarh district.

In the assessment done by the I-T Department, it has been revealed that the value of illegally dumped coal at the company's premises is Rs 23.75 crore. The department had conducted a survey on March 20-21 at the company's locations in Ranchi and Kuju.

During the survey, it was found that the company has a huge stock of coal at its premises as compared to the details entered in its stock register. The evaluation of this stock was done by the experts of Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI), a Central government company.

Investigation revealed that this coal was to be supplied to Maithon Power Limited and Koderma Thermal Power Limited, but the company dumped it. The plans were to illegally sell the coal at high prices in the market.

The businessman running the company has also accepted the proof of having an undisclosed income of Rs 4.5 crore. He has also agreed to pay a tax of Rs 1.5 crore to the I-T Department.

--IANS
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Bulandshahr (Uttar Pradesh), March 23 (IANS) The Bulandshahr police have arrested a 60- year-old self-styled 'godman', who had been absconding for over two years, for allegedly murdering his lover's son.

According to police, the accused, identified as Sujan Singh, had strangled Amar Singh, 32, to death and dumped his body in a forest in January 2021.

Later that month, police recovered the partially burnt body of Amar from the area.

During investigation, police found that Amar was last seen with Sujan, after which they launched a manhunt to nab him.

The accused was arrested along with an illegal country-made pistol from a village temple in the Salempur area of Bulandshahr district, where he had been hiding.

Shlok Kumar, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Bulandshahr, said, "Sujan Singh was wanted in connection with the murder of Amar Singh, a resident of Aligarh, as he opposed the illicit relationship between his mother and the accused."

--IANS
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Lucknow, March 23 (IANS) Two youths have been arrested in connection with the murder of a truck driver from Punjab whose body was found inside the driver's cabin.

The accused -- 19-year-old Rohit Kumar and 26-year-old Kamal -- are residents of Sitapur.

During interrogation, Rohit told police that the truck driver Harpinder, 60, originally from Faridkot district, tried to harass him sexually under the influence of alcohol.

In order to save himself, he attacked Harpinder with an iron weapon.

DCP East Hridesh Kumar said: "The accused also told us that in order to destroy the evidence, they drove the truck to the outskirts of the city and fled with its key and some money and even threw the weapon at a secluded place.

"The two have been booked under IPC sections of 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence)."

Earlier on Monday, police found Harpinder's body inside the truck with an Uttarakhand number plate.

--IANS
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Hyderabad, March 22 (IANS) A city court on Wednesday sent YouTuber Chintapandu Naveen Kumar alias Teenmaar Mallanna and four others to judicial custody in a case registered against them for allegedly abducting and assaulting two policemen.

The accused, who were arrested by Rachakonda police late on Tuesday night, were presented before a court in Hayathnagar, which sent them to judicial custody.

The accused, who have been booked for kidnapping, wrongful confinement, assault and attempt to murder, were later shifted to Cherlapally jail.

While it was earlier believed that Mallanna was arrested for alleged derogatory comments against Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and his family members, Rachakonda police clarified that he and four others working for his YouTube channel Q News were arrested for assaulting policemen.

According to police, two police constables were on duty near a hotel in the Peerzadiguda area on Tuesday evening to carry out vehicle checking to prevent chain snatchings.

Three unknown persons, armed with lathis, approached the police constables and forcibly took them to the nearby Q News office. Though policemen tried to show their identity cards, the attackers snatched these, took them to Q News office and produced them before Mallanna stating that police are loitering near their office.

"Mallanna then ordered his associates to bring them into his room, where the police officers were thrashed severely after snatching awy their cell phones. Teenmaar Mallanna started assaulting them with a stick provoking his associates by wrongfully confining in their office," the police said.

Later the police parties deployed in the area rushed to the spot but the accused obstructed their efforts to rescue them.

Police arrested Q News newsreader Teenmaar Mallanna, editor Bandaru Ravinder, driver Uppala Nikhil, office boy Sirra Sudhakar, and software engineer Chintha Sandeep Kumar, and registered a case under Sections 363 (kidnapping), 342 (wrongful confinement), 395 (dacoity), 332 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 307 (attempt to murder) read with 34 (common intention) of the IPC and section 7 (1) of Criminal Amendment Act, 1932.

Earlier, several police complaints were lodged against Mallanna at various police stations for his alleged derogatory comments against Chief Minister Chandrashekhar Rao, his son and IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao and daughter MLC K. Kavitha on his YouTube channel.

Telangana Jagruthi member Naveen Goud had lodged a complaint against Mallanna, with LB Nagar police for making defamatory comments against Kavitha and Rama Rao, demanding immediate action be taken against Mallanna and his channel should be banned.

BJP chief Bandi Sanjay had visited Mallanna's house late on Tuesday night and condemned the arrest.

"Democracy is under threat in Telangana. Let's Save Democracy ! KCR is digging his own grave by stifling the voices which are questioning his tyranny. Earnest request to media organisations not to budge into the pressure of BRS govt," tweeted Sanjay after the visit.

Mallanna's supporters alleged that instead of taking action against those who attacked Q News office on Sunday night, the police arrested him.

Unidentified persons had the office and ransacked computers and furniture.

Mallanna, who was not present in the office at the time of attack, had alleged that 25 BRS goondas attacked his office. He claimed that it was a conspiracy to murder him.

Mallanna, who calls himself a journalist, is a vocal critic of the BRS government, Chief Minister Chandrasekhar Rao and his family members.

--IANS
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Kochi, March 22 (IANS) The Kerala High Court on Wednesday reserved its order on a petition seeking a probe into the allegations of gold and currency smuggling against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his family members.

The petition was filed by Aji Krishna.

Going through the petition, the court said it is based on hearsay and the prosecution too strongly opposed the plea, pointing out that a similar petition was not admitted in the High Court in the past and hence this should also should not be admitted.

But when the petitioner further insisted, the Court said it is reserving its order.

Incidentally, gold smuggling case prime accused Swapna Suresh has been continuously alleging the involvement of the entire Vijayan family in smuggling gold and currency.

Ever since she came out with these allegations, both the Congress and the BJP have been taking pot shots at Vijayan on why he or any of his family members have not even taken step to send a legal notice against her.

--IANS
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Bengaluru, March 17 (IANS) Union Minister of State for Rural Development Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti suffered minor injuries after her car met an accident with a truck in Karnataka's Vijayapura district on Thursday night.

The minister was immediately rushed to a hospital, where she was treated for minor injuries, the police stated.

According to the police, the truck driver was drunk and has been arrested.

The minister's car was severely damaged after the fully loaded truck overturned in front of it.

The minister was in Karnataka to attend a Mahila Samellan organised by the ruling BJP, in the runup to assembly polls.

Speaking to reporters, she said, "By the grace of God, I am totally safe after a vehicle mishap in Karnataka. My driver has suffered some injuries in the accident. Please pray for his speedy recovery."

--IANS
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Hyderabad, March 17 (IANS) Six people were killed in a huge fire that broke out in a multi-storey building in Secunderabad here on Thursday night, officials said.

The deceased include four women. Seven others were rescued by fire service personnel.

Hyderabad District Collector Amoy Kumar said the victims died of suffocation due to the smoke.

The deceased, all stated to be in their 20s, succumbed at Gandhi Hospital. They hailed from Warangal, Mahabubabad, and Khammam districts and were said to be employees of a company operating out of the building.

After battling for four hours, fire fighting personnel controlled the fire which started from the third floor of Swapnalok Complex and spread to the upper floors of the eight-storey building, which houses offices.

Officials said the rescue work was still on as the smoke has not yet cleared.

Ten fire tenders rushed to the scene and were engaged in the fire-fighting operation.

Huge flames leaping out of the building, causing panic among people in the area. Police vacated residents staying in adjoining buildings.

According to locals, the fire broke out between 7.30 and 8 p.m. The cause of the fire was not known.

State minister T. Srinivas Yadav rushed to the spot and was monitoring rescue and relief work.

This is the second major fire accident in Secunderabad, the twin city of Hyderabad, in less than two months.

Three persons were killed in a huge fire at a multi-storey commercial complex on January 28. The building was completely gutted in the fire and it was later demolished by the authorities as the structure had become weak.

--IANS
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Patna, March 17 (IANS) RJD MLA Bhai Virendra on Thursday took on Bihar Education Minister Chandra Shekhar Yadav, who is from his own party, alleging that his answer was misleading the house and people of the state.

Bhai Virendra, the MLA from Maner assembly constituency in Patna, asked a question about the pending salaries of teaching faculty and other staff of colleges in the state.

"They have not been getting salaries for the last three months despite the Patna High Court also directing the state government to pay the salaries as soon as possible. Then why is the Education Department not releasing the salaries?" he asked.

Responding to the question, the Minister said that the department has filed a revision petition in the high court and he is not aware if the same would be accepted or not.

Bhai Virendra was not pleased with the answer, and urged Speaker Awadh Bihari Chaudhary to keep his question pending until the Minister prepares a proper reply.

"We already have a shortage of employees in the colleges. Hence, what is the need of filing the revision petition in the court," he said.

The Speaker adjourned the question and directed the Education Minister to sit with the Additional Chief Secretary of his department and reach a logical conclusion in the interest of common people. He further said that if necessary, the matter will be sent to the Chief Minister's office.

--IANS
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Jaipur, March 16 (IANS) Announcing the verdict on a petition filed by patients suffering from rare diseases, the Rajasthan High Court has directed the state government to ensure that the patients suffering from such diseases are treated at J.K. Lon Hospital in Jaipur.

The court mentioned the recent case of one Zamil, and directed the state government to treat the petitioners for a rare disease -- Spinal Muscular Atrophy, at J.K. Lon Hospital.

Justice Inderjeet Singh in his order passed on March 13 quoted a verdict announced on December 6, 2022 in the matter of Zamil vs. state government.

In Zamil's case, the court had said: "Since the matter involves issues relating to treatment of patients suffering from rare diseases, the state government is also required to ensure availability of funds for treatment including procurement. We give liberty to individual cases of those persons who are suffering from rare diseases to approach the court in case there is grievance that they are not getting proper treatment either in AIIMS at Jodhpur or in JK Lon Hospital at Jaipur. The petition is disposed of at this stage."

Recalling the same judgement, the court said that the writ petition is disposed of in view of the judgment passed by the Division Bench of this court in the matter of Zamil (supra) with a direction to the respondents to treat the petitioners for their rare disease i.e. Spinal Muscular Atrophy (Antisense oligonucleotides both intravenous & oral & gene therapy) at J.K. Lon Hospital.

It needs to be mentioned here that the parents of children suffering from rare disorders have been running from pillar to post seeking medical help in the state but nothing concrete has been done so far.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy can be cured with "Rs 16 crore shot", say doctors.

One of the petitioners, Tanishq Singh's parents, are crying for help as they are poor and hail from a small village.

--IANS
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